For more than 70 years, beginning in 1929, one party, the party of the institutional revolution, known for its Spanish initials PRI-dominated political life in Mexico, at all levels of government. But when Vicente Fox, the candidate of the rival National Action Party (PAN) won the presidential election in 2000, the changes rippled through the general political structure of the country. This case tells the story of the emergence of competitive elections at the municipal level, in particular, one municipality symbol of great change. In describing the changes in the political life Chignahuapan, jurisdiction of about 50,000 in the Sierra Norte mountains to the north-east of Mexico City, the case frames the question of electoral changes can lead to a sustainable reform of the local self-government. This is a question that arises when, surprisingly, on the reform of the administration of PAN gains power in the area in February 2002 and is starting to change, and administrative processes (opening meeting of the local council for the first time) and moving generally in the direction of transparency and improved local services. Administrative reform was, however, restricted by law only one term, thus creating a central question: how can the administrative reform seek it initiates the change will not be temporary? HKS Case Number 1841.0 "Hide
by Jonathan Schlefer, Merilee Grindle 17 pages. Publication Date: Jun 09, 2006. Prod. #: HKS320-PDF-ENG
